From Oct. 1 to Oct. 3, Villanova University’s Office for Sustainability in Mission and Ministry hosted the 2024 International Sustainability Conference. This is the first time that this event has been hosted at Villanova.
The conference, entitled Our Common Home, Our Common Hope: Community Engagement for a Safe and Just Future, aimed to showcase interdisciplinary research that encourages communities to adopt sustainable lifestyles that benefit both people and the planet. The goal of the event was to foster collaboration, share cutting-edge research and generate solutions that address environmental issues worldwide.
The Villanovan had the opportunity to speak with Villanova’s Assistant Director for the Office of Sustainability, Aldo Pierini. He shared his thoughts on what he saw as the central theme of the event.
“Hope will be the central theme,” he said. “That we can hope for a better world which serves as an impetus to do something. We also want to see a more positive tone in the climate discourse. That we can make a difference.”
Prominent keynote speakers delivered powerful messages throughout the event. Notably, renowned climatologist Dr. Michael Mann addressed the audience on “How Lessons from Earth’s Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis,” offering insights into the urgent need for climate action.
Pierini emphasized the importance of Mann’s keynote address.
“One challenge that was discussed is to move from researching what is already known to researching solutions that can address the problem,” he said. “Another challenge is how to integrate sustainability across diverse disciplines. The discussions that took place at the concurrent sessions laid the foundation for further interdisciplinary research moving forward.”
Several Villanova faculty members had the opportunity to submit abstracts for a chance to be selected to present. Additionally, Villanova students played a crucial role in the conference, showcasing their research through innovative presentations and participating in discussions. The conference’s emphasis on interdisciplinary research was clear, with over 50 presentations covering a wide range of topics.
The broad disciplines included Health & Ecology, Engineering, Education, Arts & Humanities, Policy, International Development, Philosophy, Economics, Religion and Technology. Each research presentation drew in a crowd eager to learn more about how sustainability can reach all corners of study.
The conference also featured a wide range of panels, including discussions on socially responsible research, climate and migration and the future of transportation. These sessions encouraged participants to consider innovative solutions to some of the world’s most complex environmental challenges.
The 2024 International Sustainability Conference at Villanova University not only provided a platform for sharing ideas but also fostered collaboration across disciplines.
Pierini commended the Villanova community for playing active roles in organizing the conference, including “serving as panelists, choosing the speakers, helping in terms of logistics, making the conference a zero-waste event, and volunteering in many other ways. The generosity of the Villanova community was impressive.”
As the world faces mounting environmental challenges, events like this remind us of the importance of collective action and innovative thinking in securing a sustainable future.
